Experience

Columbia Public Schools

• United States
• Education Management
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Science Teacher

  • Aug 2020 - Present



University of Missouri-Columbia

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Scientist (academic)

  • Jun 2019 - Aug 2020

  Research on Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress (SMARD). Experience includes: handling, breeding, genotyping, and colony planning of animal models; flow cytometry; CFSE staining; cell culture; PCR, RT-PCR; cloning; Western blotting; immunoprecipitations; recombinant protein expression in bacteria; protein A purification of proteins; ASO design; in vitro transfection; small animal ICV injections; isolation of PBMCs. Research on Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress (SMARD). Experience includes: handling, breeding, genotyping, and colony planning of animal models; flow cytometry; CFSE staining; cell culture; PCR, RT-PCR; cloning; Western blotting; immunoprecipitations; recombinant protein expression in bacteria; protein A purification of proteins; ASO design; in vitro transfection; small animal ICV injections; isolation of PBMCs.



University of Missouri - Columbia Research Reactor (MURR)

• Columbia, Missouri Area

• Lead Microbiologist - QC Microbiology Supervisor

  • Apr 2014 - Jan 2019

  Subject matter expert, point-of-contact, and supervisor of the Quality Control Microbiology group (cGMP) in support of the radionuclide Products and Services division. Experience includes management, training, and performance of the following tasks required for product validation and routine testing per internal, client, and FDA standards: Environmental monitoring; growth promotion testing and media quality control; authorship, revision, validation, and/or review of all CAPAs, SOPs, IOPQs, OOS, and investigations in support of microbiological quality control; direct supervision, routine and annual performance assessment, professional development, and morale of multiple direct reports; gowning training for all facility staff involved in cGMP tasks; development, analytical and process method validation, and routine performance of bioburden, sterility, and endotoxin assays for product testing and batch release per USP chapters <61>, <62>, <71>, and <85>; annual update of in-house action and alert levels for microbiological limits in production laboratories; laboratory equipment maintenance, initial and routine calibrations, and qualifications; arrangement of HEPA filter and metrology equipment certification and data review; developed annual operating budgets; calibrations and use of pH meters and analytical balances; root cause analysis via fishbone/Ishikawa diagrams or five “whys”; collaboration with production, QA, and other QC staff; responsible for subjection of test product to environmental and temporal conditions for the purposes of product stability testing; participation in internal, customer, and federal regulatory audits; responsible for the proper handling and disposal of biohazard unwanted materials and radioactive waste; basic exposure to, and understanding of, bioassays and equipment such as: HPLC, LC-MS, and ICP-MS. Show less



IDEXX

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Scientist I

  • Nov 2011 - Feb 2014

  Experience includes: Research and Development responsibilities in the design, improvement, and routine use of molecular diagnostic detection methods (PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR) for clinically relevant pathogens of laboratory animals; preparation of written reports on all phases of projects; consolidation of relevant data into clear, concise finalized validation reports and/or SOPs when necessary; examined and monitored client samples (primarily fecal or tissue samples) for the presence of specific pathogens using automated (Vitek) and manual testing methods; prepared samples, performed appropriate tests, interpreted and reported results; extensive use of aseptic technique to properly isolate organisms from a mixed population; transfer of colonies to new media by streaking for isolation; tests and reagents routinely used included, but are not limited to: Blood agar plates, Chocolate agar, MacConkey agar, Mannitol Salt Agar, Cetrimide agar, Gram staining, Motility tests, Catalase/Oxidase tests, CAMP test, Bile Esculin, Coagulase test, MR/VP, SIM media, Sterility test, and Urease test; prepared testing media in-house; performed quality control tests on prepared media prior to their introduction into the lab. Show less



Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (RADIL)

• Columbia, Missouri Area

• Senior Research Specialist

  • Jun 2010 - Nov 2011

  Experience includes: Research and Development responsibilities in the design, improvement, and routine use of molecular diagnostic detection methods (PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR) for clinically relevant pathogens of laboratory animals; preparation of written reports on all phases of projects; consolidation of relevant data into clear, concise finalized validation reports and/or SOPs when necessary; examined and monitored client samples (primarily fecal or tissue samples) for the presence of specific pathogens using automated (Vitek) and manual testing methods; prepared samples, performed appropriate tests, interpreted and reported results; extensive use of aseptic technique to properly isolate organisms from a mixed population; transfer of colonies to new media by streaking for isolation; tests and reagents routinely used included, but are not limited to: Blood agar plates, Chocolate agar, MacConkey agar, Mannitol Salt Agar, Cetrimide agar, Gram staining, Motility tests, Catalase/Oxidase tests, CAMP test, Bile Esculin, Coagulase test, MR/VP, SIM media, Sterility test, and Urease test; prepared testing media in-house; performed quality control tests on prepared media prior to their introduction into the lab. Show less



University of Missouri-Columbia

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Assistant

  • Jun 2001 - Jun 2010

  Conducted independent, high-level molecular biological research on a wide array of diverse topics relevant to the fields of virology, cellular, and molecular biology. First author or co-author of four peer-reviewed publications. Experience includes: Unofficial supervision of pre- as well as post-doctoral researchers in the development, testing, and practice of technical procedures to enhance efficiency and reproducibility; flow cytometry; cell culture; Western blotting; immunoprecipitations; PCR; RT-PCR; qPCR; cloning; recombinant virus production; siRNA knockdowns; ribonuclease protection assays; Southern blotting; in vitro transfection; bacterial transformation and culture; reagent preparation; phage display, ELISA, and FACS. Show less



Southeast Missouri State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Assistant

  • 2000 - 2001

  Antibiotic susceptibility testing for clinically relevant bacteria in the Southeast Missouri area (In partnership with Southeast Missouri Hospital).

• Research Assistant

  • 1998 - 2000

  Ames Testing with Salmonella typhimurium to assess mutagenic potential of regionally-utilized herbicides and pesticides (In partnership with Monsanto).